Can opener



M.M. Mum).

CAN OPENER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 3, 1920.

, Pat entd J une 20, 1922.

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q l QLn 6 UNITED TENT OFFICE.

MELBOURNE M. MUDD, OF TOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE NOBBY MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CAN OPENER.

Application filed May 3,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVhsLBoURNn MILES MUDD, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Openers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in can openers and the object thereof is to provide an implement for cutting out the tops of tin cans in a manner that will leave the edge of an opening made in the can smooth and pressed against the inner wall of the can so as to avoid jaggedness.

The object of the invention is accomplished by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the device shown partly cut away and in central section;

Fig. 2 is a bottom lan view of the invention projected from ig. 1; and

3 is an elevation of the device shown applied in operating position on the top of a can.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views and having reference now to the same:

1 is a knob which may be of any suitable form adapted to be grasped by the hand. The knob shown in the drawings is made of sheet metal spun or drawn into shape and 2 is a saw-toothed wheel fixedly connected with the knob, there being a smooth hub 3 interposed between the wheel and knob. Beneath the wheel is fixed a pointed prod 4 which, together with the wheel and hub, is secured to the knob by a pair of rivets 5. Upon the hub, between the wheel and knob, is loosely secured a plate 6 horizontally disposed, a portion of the plate being shaped and bent downwardly so as to form a hooked cutting blade 7, the inner edge 8 of which is curved and sharp. The blade extends vertically in a plane that lies tangentially from the perimeter of the wheel, and being inte- Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 20, 1922 1920. Serial No. 378,389.

gral with the plate 6 is fixed in its relation therewith. The plate being loosely mountthe lid, after which the prod is withdrawn f and the blade 7 inserted in the opening with the wheel positioned against the exterior rim of the can, and with the bottom of the plate 6 resting upon the upper edge of therim. The knob is then twisted while the wheel s forcibly held against the side of the can by the operator who holds the knob in his grasp. The turning movement of the wheel causes the implement to crawl around the rlm of the can and drag the blade along the inner wall. The face of the blade adjacent the wall bears outwardly against the cut edge of the top and presses it against the rim, leaving the central portion of the top completely severed. The'blade being in a plane tangent to the wheel tends toward the outer edge of the can with more or less force as it is drawn along, the tendency being such as to force the intact portion of the top of the can against the rim.

lVhat I claim is:

'In a can opener, a cup shaped knob; a toothed wheel having a hub positioned with its hub against the bottom of the knob; a plate held loosely on the hub between the knob and wheel, and having a pendent cutting blade; a prod positioned against the bottom of the wheel; and a pair of rivets extending in parallel relation through the knob, wheel and prod and securing the same rigidly together.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

MELBOURNE M. MUDD. 

